Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America's Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda

In Counterstrike, Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker of the New York Times tell the story of how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies, and in law enforcement has fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans and in sharp contrast to the cowboy slogans that characterized the U.S. government's public posture.

Saudi King’s Son Plotted Effort to Oust His Rival

As next in line to be king of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Nayef was unaccustomed to being told what to do. Then, one night in June, he was summoned to a palace in Mecca, held against his will and pressured for hours to give up his claim to the throne.

"Saudi King’s Son Plotted Effort to Oust His Rival" is from the July 19, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Ben Hubbard, Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Keith Sellon-Wright.

On the afternoon of May 1, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudis to a gilded reception room next door to the White House and delivered a brisk pep talk: “Let’s get this done today.”

"A $110 Billion Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia Has Kushner's Personal Touch" is from the May 18, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Mark Landler, Eric Schmitt and Matt Apuzzo and narrated by Jef Holbrook.

Women Killed in Yemen Raid Were Al-Qaida Fighters, Pentagon Says

Female fighters were among the roughly 14 al-Qaida militants killed in a U.S. commando raid in central Yemen over the weekend, the Pentagon said Monday, seeking to explain a number of reports that civilians died in the nearly hourlong firefight.

"Women Killed in Yemen Raid Were Al-Qaida Fighters, Pentagon Says" is from the January 30, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Eric Schmitt and narrated by Kristi Burns.

In the Age of ISIS, Who's a Terrorist, and Who's Simply Deranged?

"In the Age of ISIS, Who's a Terrorist, and Who's Simply Deranged?" is from the July 17, 2016 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Pentagon Confronts a New Threat from ISIS: Exploding Drones

"Pentagon Confronts a New Threat from ISIS: Exploding Drones" is from the October 11, 2016 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Michael S. Schmidt and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Kristi Burns.

White House Defends Commando Raid on Qaida Branch in Yemen

A White House spokesman on Thursday defended the planning and execution of a Special Operations raid in Yemen on Sunday — the first approved by President Donald Trump since taking office — that left one U.S. commando dead and three others injured, and most likely killed several civilians, including children.

"White House Defends Commando Raid on Qaida Branch in Yemen" is from the February 02, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Eric Schmitt and narrated by Mike DelGaudio.

Failure to Share Data Hampers War on Boko Haram in Africa

"Failure to Share Data Hampers War on Boko Haram in Africa" is from the April 23, 2016 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Eric Schmitt and Dionne Searcey and narrated by Fleet Cooper.

Mattis Quietly Keeps Distance From Trump’s Most Divisive Moves

Less than an hour after President Donald Trump announced in the Rose Garden that he was pulling the United States out of the Paris climate accord, the White House press office began sending emails with quotations from Cabinet officials praising the decision.

"Mattis Quietly Keeps Distance From Trump’s Most Divisive Moves" is from the June 11, 2017 U.S. section of The New York Times. It was written by Helene Cooper, Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Keith Sellon-Wright.

Aircraft Carrier Wasn't Sailing to Deter North Korea, as U.S. Suggested

As worries deepened last week about whether North Korea would conduct a missile test, the White House declared that ordering a U.S. aircraft carrier into the Sea of Japan would send a powerful deterrent signal and give President Donald Trump more options in responding to the North’s provocative behavior.The problem was, the carrier, the Carl Vinson, and the four other warships in its strike force were at that very moment sailing in the opposite direction, to take part in joint exercises with the Australian navy in the Indian Ocean, 3,500 miles southwest of the Korean Peninsula.

"Aircraft Carrier Wasn't Sailing to Deter North Korea, as U.S. Suggested" is from the April 18, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Mark Landler and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Kristi Burns.

U.S. Strikes Al-Shabab, a Likely First Since Trump Relaxed Rules for Somalia

The U.S. military said Sunday that it had carried out a drone strike in southern Somalia against al-Shabab, the Qaida-linked insurgent group — apparently the first such strike since President Donald Trump relaxed targeting rules for counterterrorism operations in that country in March.

"U.S. Strikes Al-Shabab, a Likely First Since Trump Relaxed Rules for Somalia" is from the June 11, 2017 World section of The New York Times. It was written by Charlie Savage, Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt and narrated by Kristi Burns.